gaines



(No Model.)

H. F. GAINES.

FIRE ESCAPE.

N. wzrzns. Pholo-Liihographur. Washington, a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT @EETCE.

HIRAM GAINES, OF ROUSES POINT, NEW YORK.

FIRE=ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,938, dated January31, 1882.

Application filed August 23, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAn F. GAINES, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Rouses Point, in the county ofOlinton and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsinFire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description or" the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same,reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters orfigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to fire-escapes; and it consists in theconstruction and arrangement ofits several parts, aswill be hereinafterfully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which fully illustrate my invention,Figure l is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a front view; and Fig.3,acrosssection upon the line 00 m, Fig. l, detailing the stoppingmechanism.

A is a rectangular iron frame, across which is pivoted the windlass B,as shown.

Pivoted to theinside of the frame, and above 4 the pivotal points of thewindlass, is the brake C. It isconcaved, as shown, to correspond to thecircumference of the Windlass, which it embraces.

Secured tothe top of the fi ante A are the brake-springs D. They extendaround the ends of and are attached to the brake at a point above theWindlass, as shown.

Upon the Windlass is the wire rope E. Its free end passes through abeveled pipe, 0, in the top of the frame, and has attached to it a hookfor convenience in securing when in operation.

Let into the ends of the Windlass are the ratchets Z), engaging with thepawls a, which operate and are pivofed in slots in the Side ot theframe, as shown. The pawls have beveled lugs a formed upon them, whichare operated upon bythe brake, and act to throw thepawlsoutoftheratchets when pressure upon t he brake is made. The spring 0-presses upon the top of the pawls, causing them to engage with the teethwhen pressure upon the lugs by the brake is relieved. 7

Attached to the bottom of the frame is the stirrup F, as shown.

This fire-escape is intended to be carried by travelers, and also to beplaced in rooms and hallways in dwellings. In its operation the free endof the rope is attached to any convenient object in the room-as, forexample, the bed-post, table, or chairs. The device is then carried outof the window, the feet are placed in the stirrups, and the brake isthrown off, allowing the pawls a toengage with the ratchets b, renderingit impossible for the machine to descend by its own weight. When theperson is ready to descend, by simply increasing the pressure upon thebrake the pawls will be forced out and the wire rope will commence tounwind. If at any time it is desired to stop, the brake can be raised,and the pawls, pressed inward by the spring 0, will engage with theratchets upon the windlass and stop the machine.

Attached to one end of the Windlass is the crank H, by which the wirecan be wound upon the windlass after the descent.

Secured to the stirrup is a strap, G, to be buckled around the body,affording additional security to person in the descent.

-What I claim is-- 1. In a fire-escape, the framcA, having pivoted inelongated slots in its sides the pawls (I, provided with lugs a andretained'in position by the spring 0, in combination with the cylinderB, having formed around its ends the ratchets b, and with thebrake-handle 0, sub stantially as set forth.

2. The brake-handle U, curved around the cylinder, asshown, and pivotedto the upper and inner sides of the frame A, operating in combinationwith the spring '1), one end of which is secured to the brake-handle ata point between its pivotal attach merit to'the frame and the top of thecylinder, and having its other end carried around the cylinder andsecured to the top of the frame, as shown.

3. In a fire-escape, the safety stopping device herein described,consisting of the pawls a, pivoted in slots in the sides of the frame A,and provided with beveled lugs a, against which operates the brake-handle, as described, said pawls being retained in position by thespring 0 and engaging with suitable atchets, 1), formed in the ends ofthe cylinder B, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses: a HIRAM F..GAINES.

W. J. Oseoon, I P. Snow.

